Enabling Effective Space Weather and Climatology (SWaC) Capabilities: The NRC Decadal Survey in Solar and Space Physics

The U.S. very much needs long-term observations of the space weather environment and must support the development and application of coupled space weather models to protect critical societal infrastructure, including communication, navigation, and terrestrial weather satellites. As just one example, solar and space physicists partnering with power grid engineers have created the capability to model the effects of geomagnetically-induced currents on electricity transmission and distribution systems. This crucially important work has produced sophisticated software to assess the response of the electrical power system to geomagnetic storms, to assess the vulnerabilities, and to develop mitigation strategies. To fulfill the requirements for space weather presented in the June 2010 U.S. National Space Policy and envisioned in the 2010 National Space Weather Program Plan, we must develop a new approach. The National Research Council's 2013-2022 Decadal Survey presents a vision for renewed national commitment to a comprehensive program in Space Weather and Climatology, building on agency strengths. Enabling an effective SWaC capability will require action across multiple agencies. To coordinate the development of this plan, the National Space Weather Program should be re-chartered under the auspices of the National Science and Technology Council and include active participation from the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Office of Management and Budget. The plan should take into account current agency efforts and capabilities, leverage the new capabilities and knowledge that will arise from implementation of the Decadal Survey, and develop additional monitoring capabilities and platforms specifically tailored to space weather monitoring and prediction.